External Providers

Schools should not contract directly with external suppliers whose service involves directly working with children and young people.  This is to ensure that statutory and appropriate measures are taken to establish child protection and data protection procedures including, but not limited to, ensuring relevant membership in the PVG Scheme, ensuring use of data sharing principles and verifying the adequacy of relevant insurance policies.

If you wish to engage the services of any external agencies within or out with your schools, these measures must be in place. This is regardless of whether the service is free or has a cost attached.  Going forward, the commercial Legal team at East Lothian Council will assess your requirements.  They will assess whether there will be a requirement for a contractual arrangement to be in place to work with any of our children and young people.

The attachments below provide guidance on requirements and key contacts.